Being a doctor means take care of and attend to the health problems of the population in general. But there is a huge paradox because on many occasions it involves sacrificing for patients. This translates to it being the profession with the highest suicide rate in the world. Only in the United States is it reported that Between 28 and 40 doctors out of every 100,000 choose to take their own lives.
Due to the above, the American Medical Association (AAMC) conducted a study to determine the medical specialties that present the highest suicide rates and the results showed that in the first place are the anesthesiologistsfollowed by the surgeons and in third place are the doctors of the service of Emergencies.
Something important that the study mentions is that professionals who commit suicide usually show the first symptoms since their formative stage in college. The main reasons for ending his life are the anxiety, depression, stress and daily pressure.
Current panorama in Mexico
But although it is a study carried out in the United States, in our country the panorama is not very different because according to the Mexican Academy of Medicinethe suicide of Mexican doctors also has a high incidence and it is estimated that Between 96 and 140 doctors take their own lives each year.
In the specific case of our country, other reasons are added to the reasons mentioned, such as the low rate of doctors who manage to exceed the National Examination of Applicants for Medical Residencies (ENARM) and the low salaries they face in the world of work.
With all these elements, the situation that exists and that the authorities do nothing about it is alarming. As long as there are long working hours and low salaries for most doctors, it seems very difficult for the situation to change.